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Georgia cop kills beloved pet donkey in his own pasture as heartbroken owner demands justice: 'We miss him'

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 02:47:27 -0400

A Georgia police officer shot and killed a family's beloved pet donkey after officers searched the animal’s pasture in search of a missing child who was later found at a nearby church.

Hannah Israel, 30, said officers entered her family’s property in Rockmart, Polk County without warning at about 12:45 a.m. on Sunday while looking for the missing child when they noticed the baby donkey named HeeHaw.

"They claimed he ran up to them braying and they thought they were in danger and shot and killed him after trying to Taze him," Israel wrote on Facebook. "HeeHaw was shot and killed in his OWN pasture for doing what donkeys do. Alerting to a stranger. There is no way this is legal!"

She vowed to take legal action as she demanded justice for HeeHaw.

POLICE DOG FOLLOWS HIS NOSE TO FIND MISSING AUTISTIC TEEN SCREAMING FOR HELP

"We are heart broken. He was my SON!!" she wrote.

"We miss him so much where is safe?? When my own baby was shot in his own home?" she added in another post.

A photo taken after the shooting showed Israel crying over her pet donkey, as the animal's eyes remained wide open as it lay lifeless on the ground.

"He would normally be standing right over there talking while I'm talking because he thought he could talk like a person could talk," Israel told 11Alive.

"Every time he saw somebody, he would run up and bray," Israel said. "And then do a really goofy sound, and because he loved people, and he thought he was a person. He slept in my bed for the first three months of his life," she added.

The Cedartown Police Department said the officer who shot the beloved baby donkey has been placed on paid administrative leave.

"The Cedartown Police Department has turned over the investigation of the animal shooting to the Georgia Department of Agriculture Law Enforcement Division for investigation and placed the officer involved on paid administrative leave while this investigation is ongoing," the department said in a statement.

Cedartown Police Chief Jamie Newsom said body camera footage exists and he has viewed it, according to 11Alive.

"That search took them to the incident location where this very unfortunate and heartbreaking event occurred," Newsom said, according to the outlet.

Newsom said he understands the heartbreak that the family and the community is facing after the donkey's death.

"They're members of the human family, and I am too, and heartbroken," he said.

DOG SAVED FROM ISIS BY ARMY VETERAN 'KIDNAPPED' FROM FAMILY YARD BY LOCAL AUTHORITIES

The Georgia Department of Agriculture's Law Enforcement Division was at Elsberry Farm on Monday investigating HeeHaw's death.

Israel created a GoFundMe to help cover legal costs related to HeeHaw’s death. She said any donations left over would go toward the farm, care of the animals and a future HeeHaw foundation. She has raised more than $113,000 as of Tuesday morning.

"My bottle baby donkey 'HeeHaw' was killed in his own pasture on Saturday night by trespassing cops," she wrote on the fundraiser. "He was a loved member of our family and did many petting zoos and made many people smile."

She said she hired a lawyer but stressed that donations left over after legal costs would not be used for personal needs.

Lindsay Clancy’s future could rest with ‘prosecution doctors’ as case echoes infamous Maine killings: expert

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:30:45 -0400

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A retired Massachusetts Superior Court judge says that a verdict of not guilty by reason of insanity wouldn't be an easy out for Lindsay Clancy, saying that "prosecution doctors" would be the ones deciding when she would be released, and are likely more inclined to keep her locked up.

Clancy, 36, faces three counts of first-degree murder in the deaths of her children — Cora, Dawson and Callan, all under age 6 — who were found strangled at the family's home in January 2023.

Retired Massachusetts Superior Judge Jack Lu told Fox News Digital that even if Clancy is found not guilty by reason of insanity, she would likely face a significant amount of time in a mental institution.

ACCUSED NC KILLER MOM PLANS INSANITY DEFENSE — AS RETIRED JUDGE SAYS MORE MAY FOLLOW LINDSAY CLANCY STRATEGY

He said a group of mental health officials would be responsible for periodically reviewing her commitment at the facility, but noted these are people who overwhelmingly side with prosecutors and usually testify on their behalf.

LINDSAY CLANCY PROSECUTORS COME ACROSS AS 'TONE DEAF,' 'UNCARING' AND 'SNARKY,' DEFENSE ATTORNEY SAYS

"They're viewed as an arm of the prosecution," Lu said of the officials. "I'm going to be very frank, they kind of view this through the lens of if in doubt, lock them up...The people making release decisions have a prosecutorial mindset."

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Lu said, if Clancy is committed to a mental hospital, "I imagine she'd be committed year after year after year for some period of time."

"If you are committed on a mental health basis because of a major criminal case in Massachusetts, it is hard to get out... It is very difficult," he said.

He said there is another way for Clancy to be released from a mental institution if found not guilty by reason of insanity, which would be through the courts.

"The other way she could get out is if the government kept moving to commit her and the doctors did not really decide that she should be released, and then it goes to court and then a judge would decide whether she is a danger to herself or others," Lu said. "It could be more of a contested hearing, and if she were to win that contested hearing, that is the second way that she gets out."

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Clancy's case has drawn parallels with Constance Fisher, a then-24-year-old Maine woman who drowned her three children in a bathtub in 1954, according to the New York Times.

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She was committed to a mental hospital, and after several years, she returned home. She was accused of drowning three more children in 1967 and was sent back to the mental hospital, before she escaped and was found dead in the Kennebec River.

PROSECUTOR IN INFAMOUS KILLER MOM CASE SAYS WOMEN ON LINDSAY CLANCY JURY MAY BRING ‘STRANGE TWIST’ TO VERDICT

The jury in Clancy's case, consisting of nine women and three men, led by a female foreperson, concluded a third day of deliberations on Monday without coming to a verdict.

The jurors asked Judge William Sullivan around 4 p.m. to be dismissed for the day, and will return on Tuesday morning to continue deliberations.

Grand Canyon water pipeline damaged again as flooding complicates repairs

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:30:05 -0400

The one pipeline that supplies water for millions of visitors in Grand Canyon was badly damaged by flash flooding over the weekend, setting up a complicated repair scenario and disrupting a yearslong project to upgrade the aging line across rugged terrain where helicopters are often needed for even basic maintenance.

Park officials estimate after conducting flyovers that about 40% of the pipeline sustained damage. The 12.5-mile long Transcanyon Waterline has suffered dozens of breaks in recent years. A more than $200 million repair and replacement project was well underway when the floods began.

The long-term impacts on the park’s infrastructure, visitors and year-round residents were not immediately clear.

BELOVED TEXAS CHIROPRACTOR KILLED IN GRAND CANYON FLASH FLOOD, 2 FRIENDS STILL MISSING AFTER HIKE

"We anticipate miles of the pipeline being destroyed," Grand Canyon Deputy Superintendent Brian Drapeaux said.

A full survey of the devastation will not be completed until Tuesday at the earliest.

At least two people died in the floods, and one person remained missing as of Monday night after roughly 80 people were rescued over the weekend, according to officials.

The park stopped overnight accommodations, with officials saying significant water reductions are needed. This includes limiting shower time, turning off the tap while brushing teeth and flushing toilets selectively to protect the limited stored water on the South Rim, where most visitors frequent.

"They have got to keep law enforcement going, they have to keep rescue operations going, backcountry operations, park admin going, the clinic and the campground," longtime river runner and Grand Canyon hiker Tom Martin said, adding that the park has hauled water in tanker trucks in the past.

The pipeline, which was completed in the 1970s, has broken more than 85 times since 2010.

The pipeline moves water from one side of the canyon, down to its base, across a bridge and back up the other side of the rough landscape. Any attempt to fix a break from rock falls or flash floods is precarious and costly and can take time, so fixing the latest damage will be complicated.

The pipeline upgrade project, which began in 2023, took more than a decade to design and fund. The project involves installing helicopter pads, building water treatment facilities and replacing several miles of pipeline. It also seeks to move the water intake for the pipeline further down the canyon to Bright Angel Creek, which would put it closer to Phantom Ranch, a popular lodge at the base of the canyon.

A 2018 evaluation of the project said key infrastructure for the intake would be outside of areas likely to flood.

Officials said even basic decisions proved to be complicated.

For example, the original pipe was aluminum, which is lighter and easier to move into the steep canyon but is more susceptible to breaking. Engineers chose a flex-steel material to balance weight and durability.

Even routine pipeline breaks lead to water restrictions. A decade ago, a hotel on the canyon’s rim that offers luxury dining and highlights its history hosting presidents had to reduce dishwashing and use paper plates and plastic utensils.

In 1995, a nearly month long repair on the pipeline required officials to truck in water.

The park had water conservation initiatives in place even before the latest flooding and damage.

MISSING GRAND CANYON HIKER, 83, RESCUED AFTER GETTING SEPARATED FROM COMPANION

The flooding has forced parts of the park to close, and more flooding was possible on Monday, according to the National Park Service.

"Consider changing your plans if you were going to hike, boat, or paddleboard to a slot canyon or normally dry wash. If you do still decide to recreate, check in at a nearby visitor center or ranger station," the park website reads.

Officials previously said that the repair and replacement project would allow the park to meet its water supply needs for at least the next 50 years.

As the original pipeline was nearing completion in the 1960s, more than a foot of rain fell, which flooded the inner canyon and caused 40% of the project to be destroyed, according to officials.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Tyler Robinson hearing could decide death penalty fate, finally see plea in Charlie Kirk case

Tue, 01 Sep 2026 00:00:04 -0400

PROVO, Utah — Accused Charlie Kirk assassin Tyler Robinson returns to a Utah courtroom Tuesday for a hearing that could send his case to trial or dramatically reshape it, with a judge to weigh whether prosecutors have shown enough probable cause to support the aggravated murder charge that puts the death penalty on the table — and the suspect may finally be asked to enter a plea nearly a year after the slaying.

Robinson, a 23-year-old from Washington, Utah, is accused of firing a single shot that killed the 31-year-old father of two during a Turning Point USA event at Utah Valley University in Orem, Utah, on Sept. 10, 2025.

While the defense has argued that prosecutors have not established enough probable cause to pursue aggravated murder, which carries the potential death penalty, experts tell Fox News Digital that they don't expect Judge Tony Graf Jr. to take it off the table just yet.

ACCUSED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN TYLER ROBINSON ASKS JUDGE TO TAKE POTENTIAL DEATH PENALTY OFF TABLE

"We’re at a preliminary hearing stage, so we’re at a very low burden," said Skye Lazaro, a Salt Lake City-based defense attorney who is not connected to the case. "It’s probable cause, and everything is taken in a light most favorable to the state."

The court held a week-long hearing in early July, then gave both sides weeks to file briefs before Tuesday's expected decision from Judge Graf.

WATCH: Retired FBI sniper says Charlie Kirk shooting put many lives in danger

She said she expects the entire case to be bound over for trial, including the sole aggravating factor that makes the aggravated murder charge eligible for the potential death penalty — that Robinson allegedly put other people at great risk of death by shooting Kirk in a crowded place.

Greg Rogers, a former FBI agent and SWAT sniper who now teaches at Utah Valley University, said the alleged risk to the crowd should be enough to preserve the aggravating factor at this stage.

"Shooting into a crowd is always dangerous because you don’t know if someone moves, someone walks behind him," Rogers told Fox News Digital. "There are all sorts of things that could happen in the very instant you pull that trigger."

TYLER ROBINSON RARELY HIT BULLSEYE IN PRACTICE SHOTS, PUTTING BYSTANDERS AT RISK IN KIRK SHOOTING: PROSECUTORS

Rogers said even highly trained law-enforcement snipers would consider such a shot dangerous.

"When you have a rank amateur that is shooting, it’s clearly, clearly very dangerous," he said.

TYLER ROBINSON'S LAWYERS SEEK CAMERA BAN FOR SEPT. 1 HEARING, SAY CASE IS NOT A 'REALITY TV SHOW'

Separately, a court spokeswoman said last week that Graf may or may not hold an arraignment after deciding whether there's enough probable cause to bind the case over for trial.

If he does, it would be the first time that Robinson is asked to enter a plea.

TYLER ROBINSON HEARING ENDS WITHOUT RULING AS EVIDENCE DISMANTLES CHARLIE KIRK CONSPIRACY CLAIMS

"I would expect that they would enter not guilty pleas and move forward," Lazaro said.

Lazaro said a different plea would likely require an agreement taking the death penalty off the table.

ACCUSED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN TYLER ROBINSON FIGHTS BACK AS PROSECUTORS' SPRAWLING CASE COMES INTO FOCUS

"I think the state has been so assertive on their position about the death penalty in this case that I don’t see them doing that right now," Lazaro said.

To attack the aggravator, Robinson's defense argued that only a single shot was fired, from an elevated position. It traveled over the crowd, rather than through it, and it only struck Kirk.

TYLER ROBINSON'S AND LANCE TWIGGS' DNA BOTH ALLEGEDLY FOUND ON KEY EVIDENCE IN CHARLIE KIRK'S ASSASSINATION

Prosecutors countered that Robinson was a bad shot, one who "seldom hit the bullseye and sometimes misses the target completely" when practicing shooting with the suspected murder weapon.

Other evidence against Robinson includes the suspected murder weapon, a .30-06 Mauser rifle that prosecutors have said belonged to his grandfather and had his DNA on it. Robinson allegedly confessed to multiple people, including his roommate and lover, Lance Twiggs, according to court documents.

ACCUSED CHARLIE KIRK ASSASSIN ALLEGEDLY CONFESSED IN TEXTS, APOLOGIZED AND DESCRIBED MOTIVE, AGENT TESTIFIES

"This is likely as straightforward a bindover decision as this Court will ever see," prosecutors wrote. "After admitting to several friends, including his roommate and romantic partner, that he assassinated Charlie Kirk at Utah Valley University on September 10, 2025, in front of approximately 3,000 eyewitnesses, Defendant surrendered to law enforcement for that crime."

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Prosecutors also presented surveillance video, ballistic evidence, an alleged handwritten confession and witness statements.

In one message to Twiggs, Robinson allegedly wrote that, "I had the opportunity to take out Charlie Kirk, and I took it."

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A source close to the Kirk family said last week that Kirk's widow Erika, and his parents, Rob and Kathy, all plan to attend the Sept. 1 hearing together as they did during the July hearing.

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But even if the case moves forward, Lazaro said the pretrial sparring won't end any time soon.

"I do think we’re going to see a lot more litigation come down the road in terms of 1102 and expert-witness designations, forensic testimony on the ballistics and things like that," Lazaro said.

WATCH: Maryland carjacking suspect plows toward cops as they open fire

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 22:00:00 -0400

Newly released body camera footage shows an alleged carjacking suspect driving toward Maryland police officers, striking an officer and multiple cars before officers opened fire as she attempted to flee.

Police in Anne Arundel County responded on May 7 at around 9 p.m. to the area of North Crain Highway and 11th Avenue in Glen Burnie for a report of a hit-and-run. When police arrived at the scene, they learned a woman had crashed her car into another vehicle before forcibly taking the vehicle belonging to a family member who had shown up to help her.

The woman, identified as Jasmin L. Cooper, 28, was later located inside the vehicle on the 8500 block of Severn.

WATCH: DEPUTIES HUNT WANTED MAN THROUGH CORNFIELD AFTER HIGH-SPEED CHASE CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Officers can be seen in the video pointing their guns at the woman inside the car, yelling at her to "turn the car off" and "get out of the car." At one point, she raises her hands from the wheel, but she does not exit the vehicle.

"So what, she stole her son's car?" one officer is heard saying in the footage.

A short time later, the woman pulled out of the parking space and sped away while officers hurried out of the way.

SUSPECT ACCUSED OF HURLING CHAINSAW AT DEPUTIES DURING CHAOTIC STOLEN CAR CHASE CAUGHT ON VIDEO

Police said Cooper drove toward the officers, striking an officer, two patrol cars and another vehicle, prompting officers to discharge their firearms, striking her..

Additional officers responding to the scene observed Cooper turn onto Reece Road. She crashed into another car in the area of Reece Road and Telegraph Road and attempted to break into another occupied vehicle before officers apprehended her.

The footage shows the woman lying on the ground in handcuffs. The video also shows officers bandaging the woman's wound after she was shot in the parking lot.

Cooper was charged with carjacking, attempted carjacking , multiple counts of reckless endangerment, first- and second-degree assault and related charges.

The suspect and the officer who was struck by her were both treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

Suspected DUI driver leads cops on wild chase before dramatic takedown on popular California beach

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 21:17:29 -0400

A man accused of driving recklessly led police on an erratic pursuit through San Diego before the chase spilled onto a popular beach Sunday morning, where stunned beachgoers watched officers move in and take him into custody.

The chaotic pursuit began just before 7:30 a.m. when the San Diego Police Department received multiple calls from witnesses reporting a man driving recklessly in the Pacific Beach neighborhood, police told Fox News Digital.

Witnesses described a man behind the wheel of a tan or gold Nissan Frontier doing donuts in parking lots, nearly hitting other vehicles and possibly striking curbs and a retaining wall, according to police.

Officers arrived in the area within minutes and spotted the truck heading west toward the ocean. An officer attempted a traffic stop, but police said the driver fled and a pursuit ensued.

HUNDREDS BLOCK FLORIDA INTERSTATE IN ALLEGED STREET TAKEOVER BEFORE 140 MPH POLICE CHASE

Officers eventually terminated the pursuit because of what police described as the driver's "increasing wanton disregard to public safety."

BODYCAM SHOWS POLICE K-9 LEAPING INTO ACTION AFTER SUSPECTED IMPAIRED DRIVER REFUSED TO SURRENDER

Police later located the truck again, but the driver allegedly failed to yield a second time, sparking another pursuit that officers also terminated.

By then, police said the Nissan was wanted in connection with felony evading, and officers saturated the area in an effort to locate it.

WATCH: DEPUTIES HUNT WANTED MAN THROUGH CORNFIELD AFTER HIGH-SPEED CHASE CAUGHT ON CAMERA

Officers eventually spotted the truck again driving slowly but held off on another attempted stop until the department's ABLE, or Airborne Law Enforcement, helicopter was overhead and able to track it.

The helicopter followed the Nissan as it drove onto the beach and headed toward the water, police said.

WATCH: FELONY SUSPECT'S OCEAN GETAWAY UNRAVELS AFTER 90-MINUTE STANDOFF WITH LIFEGUARDS

Video from the scene shows stunned beachgoers watching as officers converge on the pickup on the sand. The driver, identified by police as 25-year-old Griffin Charles Foy, is seen outside the truck with his hands raised as officers move in to detain him.

A police K-9 was also at the scene but was not deployed during Foy’s arrest, authorities said.

FLORIDA MAN IN BUNNY HELMET ALLEGEDLY LED POLICE ON 120 MPH CHASE BEFORE SURRENDERING TO TROOPERS

Police said officers conducted a high-risk vehicle stop because of the nature of the alleged violations and Foy's "disregard to public safety."

Foy was taken into custody without further incident.

REPEAT OFFENDER WITH MASSIVE RAP SHEET LEADS COPS ON WILD CHASE AS BLIND PASSENGER BEGS TO ESCAPE: POLICE

He was booked into San Diego Central Jail on charges of felony evading a peace officer with wanton disregard for safety, obstructing or resisting a peace officer and driving under the influence of drugs, according to police.

Despite the chaotic pursuit, police said no one was injured.

Teen girl indicted on murder charges for allegedly helping spread livestream of deadly mosque shooting

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 20:45:07 -0400

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A 17-year-old North Carolina girl has been charged with murder by aiding and abetting after allegedly recording a livestream of the deadly San Diego mosque shooting and sharing the attackers’ manifesto.

Forsyth County District Attorney Jim O’Neill said Monday that the teenager, identified as Sarah L. Santiago in court records, was indicted on three murder counts and one conspiracy count, according to The Associated Press.

Although she was across the country during the May 18 attack, she allegedly recorded and helped distribute the attackers’ livestream and published their manifesto.

"She disseminated that information. And she published their manifesto," O'Neill said.

NORTH CAROLINA WOMAN CHARGED IN ALLEGED HOUSTON SYNAGOGUE ATTACK PLOT AS INVESTIGATORS SEARCH FOR 2 OTHERS

Caleb Vazquez, 18, and Cain Clark, 17, stormed the Islamic Center of San Diego armed and intending to kill people inside, according to authorities.

The gunmen killed three men — Amin Abdullah, Nadir Awad and Mansour Kaziha — who confronted them and helped prevent further bloodshed.

The attackers later died by suicide in a vehicle nearby, police said.

Authorities said the mosque was one target in a broader attack plan.

"Their plan that day was to commit mass murders not only at the mosque, but to follow up at a local Jewish temple. And finally, at a predominantly African-American high school there in town," O'Neill said.

FBI NABS 7 FOR ALLEGED 'CAMPAIGN OF VIOLENCE' TO PRESSURE UNIVERSITY OF MICHIGAN, BUSINESSES OVER ISRAEL TIES

The indictment alleges Santiago agreed before the attack to record and distribute the gunmen’s livestream and publish their manifesto. She is also accused of buying a patch bearing a white-supremacist symbol for one of the attackers to wear during the shooting, The Associated Press reported.

O’Neill said Santiago could face charges in North Carolina even though she was not physically present in California.

"She didn't have to be in California, she's in our jurisdiction," O'Neill said. "And today, a grand jury indicted her and held her responsible for her actions leading up to that disastrous day in May."

O’Neill noted that North Carolina law allows a 17-year-old accused of such conduct to be treated as an adult.

FBI BRINGS IRAQI MAN ACCUSED OF COORDINATING NEARLY 20 TERROR ATTACKS IN EUROPE TO FACE TRIAL IN NEW YORK

Authorities said the broader investigation has included more than 100 interviews, over 30 search warrants and a review of more than 4 million messages.

"Our investigation shows that the individual had multiple opportunities to come forward to law enforcement and alert us of these deliberate actions, and the failure to do so must have consequences," FBI Charlotte Special Agent in Charge Reid Davis said.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

Duane 'Keffe D' Davis found guilty of first-degree murder in 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 20:20:25 -0400

A Nevada jury on Monday found Duane "Keffe D" Davis guilty of first-degree murder with the use of a deadly weapon in the 1996 drive-by shooting death of rap icon Tupac Shakur.

Davis, 63, could face life in prison after becoming the first person convicted in the nearly 30-year-old case, according to The Associated Press.

Jurors deliberated for about three hours following closing arguments in the closely watched trial.

Shakur’s sister, Sekyiwa "Set" Shakur, cried after the verdict was read, while Davis’ son covered his face with one hand.

TUPAC MURDER TRIAL FACES ‘SNITCHES GET STITCHES’ PROBLEM BUT DEFENDANT'S GHOSTWRITER COULD BE KEY

In closing arguments, Prosecutor Binu Palal said Davis obtained a gun and "went hunting" for Shakur and Marion "Suge" Knight after they attacked Davis' nephew, according to The Associated Press.

He said Davis consistently placed himself inside the Cadillac used in the shooting.

TUPAC SHAKUR MURDER TRIAL'S FIRST WEEK HAD HEATED TESTIMONY FROM RELUCTANT WITNESSES WITH OLD GANGLAND TIES

Meanwhile, defense attorney Michael Sanft argued that no evidence beyond Davis’ statements placed him in Las Vegas or inside the car.

The 16-member panel, including four alternates, heard nine days of testimony from 24 prosecution witnesses and three defense witnesses.

Davis was ordered held without bail pending sentencing, which is scheduled for Oct. 13.

TUPAC SHAKUR MURDER SUSPECT TAKES CENTER STAGE AT TRIAL NEARLY 30 YEARS AFTER SHOOTING SHOCKED MUSIC WORLD

A gunman in a white Cadillac opened fire on a BMW carrying Shakur and Knight on Sept. 7, 1996, on the Las Vegas Strip. Knight recovered from minor injuries.

Shakur succumbed to his injuries six days later at 25 years old.

Fox News' Melissa Chrise and Fox News Digital's Michael Ruiz contributed to this report.

Navy unveils ‘MALICE’ missile built to strike enemy aircraft from extreme range

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 18:14:25 -0400

The U.S. Navy is developing a brand-new, extra-long-range missile designed to shoot down enemy aircraft before they can get close enough to threaten American fighter jets or aircraft carriers.

The department announced the new weapon on Aug. 22, saying the next-generation AIM-424 LRAAM is nicknamed "MALICE."

The weapon is designed to be fired from a jet to target enemy aircraft or drones at extreme distances in the air.

In practice, American pilots will be able to detect an enemy on radar, launch the missile from extreme ranges and destroy the target before coming within close proximity to the enemy, potentially increasing the pilot's survivability.

ARMY CONDUCTS FIRST OVERSEAS TEST OF 'HAMMER OF THE GODS' WEAPON-DISRUPTING SYSTEM

"LRAAM sustains the Department’s first look, first shot, first kill advantage by providing our aviators greater reach, greater survivability, and greater tactical flexibility in the air-to-air fight," the Navy said.

The missile is designed to increase the "range, lethality, and combat effectiveness for Marine and Naval aviation forces," officials added.

EUROPE'S $116B FIGHTER JET 'FAILURE' RAISES FRESH DOUBTS ABOUT ABILITY TO DEFEND ITSELF WITHOUT US

Its range is listed as "in excess" of 250 nautical miles, or roughly 287 statute miles. That is a massive distance for an air-to-air missile, allowing jets to protect an entire fleet from far over the horizon.

At 13.5 feet long and weighing 1,500 pounds, the missile is significantly larger and heavier than standard medium-range air-to-air missiles. In comparison, the AIM-120 AMRAAM weighs about 335 pounds, underscoring the size of the propulsion system needed to propel the LRAAM to extreme distances.

The missile is also equipped with a blast-fragmentation warhead, meaning it does not necessarily have to score a direct physical hit. Instead, it detonates near the target, sending fragments outward to destroy or disable the aircraft.

Officials said the missile is compatible with aircraft across multiple generations, including fourth and fifth-generation fighters as well as future sixth-generation aircraft.

The LRAAM is being developed by Raytheon, one of the U.S. military’s primary defense contractors.

Knife-wielding woman accused of stabbing 2 in Times Square before being shot by police

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:26:12 -0400

A woman armed with two knives went on a random stabbing spree through the heart of Times Square Monday before a tense confrontation with NYPD officers ended in deadly gunfire, authorities said.

The attack left a 32-year-old woman dead and a 68-year-old man wounded after the two strangers were stabbed within just 20 seconds of each other, NYPD Commissioner Jessica Tisch said during an evening news conference.

Police identified the alleged attacker as 49-year-old Pamela Cisneros of Queens, who was also killed after officers opened fire.

The violence began around 4:24 p.m. near West 41st Street and Seventh Avenue, where a 68-year-old man had just exited the subway and was standing with his wife waiting to cross the street.

WITNESSES RECOUNT 'SCARY' NYC STABBING AFTER SUSPECT ALLEGEDLY YELLED 'ALLAHU AKBAR' DURING ATTACKS

A witness told investigators Cisneros pulled two knives from a red Target bag, waved them and approached the man before stabbing him in the right side of his abdomen in what Tisch called a "random and unprovoked attack."

The man was rushed to Bellevue Hospital and remained in stable condition Monday evening.

Cisneros then headed north on Seventh Avenue toward West 42nd Street, where police said she approached a 32-year-old woman and stabbed her in the abdomen in another apparently random attack.

MAN DEAD, ANOTHER CRITICAL AFTER DOUBLE STABBING AT BROOKLYN PARK AS POLICE DETAIN PERSON OF INTEREST: NYPD

The woman was rushed to Bellevue, where she died from her injuries. Police had not released her identity pending notification of her family.

The two attacks unfolded within approximately 20 seconds of each other, Tisch said. The second stabbing was captured on an NYPD Argus camera.

NYPD OFFICERS FATALLY SHOOT MAN ARMED WITH BUTCHER KNIFE AFTER HE ADVANCED TOWARD COPS: POLICE

As Cisneros continued north, witnesses flagged down officers who confronted her between West 42nd and West 43rd streets. She was still holding both knives, police said.

What followed was a roughly four-minute standoff as officers repeatedly ordered Cisneros to drop the weapons and attempted to talk her into surrendering them.

MACHETE-WIELDING SUSPECT CLAIMING TO BE 'LUCIFER' SHOT BY POLICE AFTER ALLEGEDLY STABBING 3 AT TRANSIT HUB

But she made clear she had no intention of surrendering the knives, Tisch said.

"I’m not dropping anything. I would rather kill both of you," Cisneros told the officers, according to Tisch.

"I will kill you," she repeated.

Police said Cisneros then began waving the knives and advancing toward the officers. Multiple officers deployed Tasers, but they failed to stop her.

As Cisneros continued advancing with the knives, two officers opened fire, striking her. She was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The confrontation and police shooting were captured on officers’ body-worn cameras, Tisch said.

EIGHT NYPD OFFICERS INJURED IN MASSIVE EXPLOSION WHILE RESPONDING TO KNIFE-WIELDING MAN IN QUEENS HOME

"This was an extraordinarily dangerous situation unfolding in the heart of Times Square, the crossroads of the world," Tisch said.

She noted that thousands of New Yorkers, commuters, tourists, families and workers can be moving through the area at any given moment.

"Our officers were confronted with a rapidly evolving threat, with countless innocent people around them," Tisch said. "In that moment, they did what we train them to do."

Mayor Zohran Mamdani also credited the responding officers with preventing further bloodshed.

NYPD OFFICER SHOT, GUNMAN KILLED AFTER ARMED BARRICADED STANDOFF IN BROOKLYN: POLICE

"I want to thank the NYPD officers who stepped in and prevented a horrific attack from becoming even worse," Mamdani said. "This is what the men and women of this department do every single day to keep our city safe."

Mamdani said the standard internal investigation into the police shooting will take place and that body-worn camera footage will be released to the public.

Cisneros had no arrest history with the NYPD, but department records documented a mental health history involving police interactions in 2018 and 2019, Tisch said. Investigators were still working to determine what brought her to Times Square before the attack.

Police said there was no reason at this stage of the investigation to believe the stabbing was an act of terrorism.

Tisch called the killing a "senseless act of violence" as she reflected on the victim and the family now confronting her death.

"One life cut far too short by a senseless act of violence," Tisch said. "There are family members and loved ones who are now confronting the unimaginable loss, and our hearts are with them."

Bryan Kohberger's new lawyer says key questions may soon get answers in court

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 17:10:42 -0400

Bryan Kohberger's newest lawyer says upcoming filings and a potential evidentiary hearing will shed new light on the Idaho student murders case while their immediate legal fight concerns the constitutionality of the plea his client is attempting to withdraw.

"We think the [amended] PCR and evidentiary hearing will naturally address some of the outstanding and unanswered questions," Jason Goldman, a New York-based attorney who is joining Kohberger's team, told Fox News Digital Monday. "That said, the main priority right now is to scrutinize the constitutional issues surrounding Bryan's plea."

Kohberger, in a handwritten petition for post-conviction relief filed in July, told the court he had ineffective counsel, that his guilty plea was "not knowingly or voluntarily entered because it was induced by unkept promises" and that it was "not voluntarily entered because of threats asserted by petitioner's (Kohberger's) legal counsel."

BRYAN KOHBERGER'S POST-CONVICTION RELIEF BID ENABLED BY FLAWED PLEA DEAL, PSYCHOLOGIST ARGUES

"The circumstances surrounding Bryan's plea — and what occurred in the critical days leading up to it — deserve careful, independent judicial scrutiny," Goldman said. "Some of those circumstances are already part of the public record. Others are not."

He also said that the support Kohberger receives from his family is part of why he agreed to join the case.

BRYAN KOHBERGER'S MOTHER CALLED HIM 'MY ANGEL' AND INSISTED POLICE MADE A 'REALLY, REALLY BAD MISTAKE': BOOK

"Most family and friends run for the hills when a loved one is quietly arrested, let alone charged with a highly-publicized murder," he said. "The unwavering support Bryan maintains speaks volumes."

Judge Steven Hippler set a Nov. 13 deadline for Kohberger's lawyers to file an amended petition which is expected to be written by attorneys and include more in-depth legal arguments than the handwritten petition Kohberger submitted in July.

BRYAN KOHBERGER’S 2027 HEARING IS NOT GUARANTEED AS IDAHO SEEKS QUICK DISMISSAL

Idaho defense attorney Greg Rauch was appointed to represent Kohberger last month. Goldman said he would be joining as out-of-state counsel but is not yet officially on the docket.

Prosecutors have asked the judge to dismiss Kohberger's petition on numerous grounds, but Kohberger's lawyers filed a motion last week to have the judge removed from the case and to change the venue back to Moscow, Idaho, where the offices of Rauch and the Latah County Prosecuting Attorney are both located.

Kohberger had previously sought a change of venue out of Latah County, where the murders took place, which landed him in front of Hippler in Ada County.

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"The motion speaks for itself," Goldman said. "We must ensure that the serious constitutional questions at play are heard in a forum whose impartiality and neutrality cannot be questioned."

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The motion, signed by Rauch, questions Hippler's impartiality, noting that he declined to give Kohberger's former defense team more time when they said they were not finished with discovery review weeks before trial.

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Rauch also took issue with some of the language Hippler has since used to describe his client: "someone in whom the Court could identify nothing remaining that was 'good or intrinsically human.'"

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Kohberger, 31, last year pleaded guilty to four counts of first-degree murder and a felony burglary charge for the 2022 stabbing deaths of University of Idaho students Madison Mogen, 21, Kaylee Goncalves, 21, Xana Kernodle, 20, and Ethan Chapin, 20.

He did not give a motive.

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In a motion filed last week, Deputy Latah County Prosecuting Attorney Keith Scholl asked for a transcript of Kohberger's July 2, 2025, change of plea hearing, in which Kohberger's own words could be used to rebut the new claims in his petition.

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Hippler set a Nov. 13 deadline — four years to the day after the murders — for Kohberger's legal team to file an amended petition and set aside two potential dates for a status conference and evidentiary hearing next year.

KOHBERGER DEFENSE EXPERT WANTS HIS LAWYERS UNDER OATH AFTER KILLER CITES FINDINGS IN BID TO UNDO GUILTY PLEA

Hearings on the recusal and venue motions could be held before then.

"We will let the evidence and the filings speak in due course," Goldman told Fox News Digital. "Stay tuned."

US Fish and Wildlife Service officer dies during wildfire evacuation efforts in Oklahoma, agency says

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 14:21:19 -0400

A federal wildlife officer is believed to have died while helping evacuate residents threatened by a wildfire in Oklahoma, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service said over the weekend.

Officials said David Taylor, 38, of Scio, Oregon, was helping people fleeing the fast-moving fire south of Oklahoma City on Saturday. He was going door-to-door to help residents alongside emergency crews.

His last contact with dispatch came while he was assisting a family in leaving their home, the agency said.

11 NATIONAL PARK SERVICE WORKERS EVACUATED BY HELICOPTER AMID CALIFORNIA FIRE

"Everything we know about David's actions demonstrates extraordinary courage and selflessness," said U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Director Brian Nesvik. " When people were in danger, David was there helping them get to safety. He remained committed to protecting others under the most dangerous circumstances. We mourn alongside his family, friends and colleagues, and we will never forget his service."

Evidence recovered from a structure led officials to believe Taylor died during the evacuation effort, authorities said.

MARINE VETERAN AND BOSTON FIREFIGHTER DIES AFTER RESCUE EFFORTS AT MASSIVE HOUSE BLAZE

At the time of his death, Taylor was a senior chief petty officer in the Navy Reserve and previously served on active duty. During his 20 years of naval service, Taylor completed five deployments, including one to Iraq and four to Djibouti.

Taylor also served the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service at the Rio Mora National Wildlife Refuge and the Las Vegas National Wildlife Refuge in New Mexico before joining the Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge in Oklahoma.

The Fish and Wildlife Service and the Department of the Interior were coordinating support for Taylor’s family and co-workers, the agency said.

UNCONTAINED BRUSH FIRE IN NEVADA TRIGGERED BY HUMAN ACTIVITY; INFERNO GROWS TO 13K ACRES

Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt has ordered all American and Oklahoma flags on state property to be flown at half-staff Sept. 1 through Sept. 4 in honor of Taylor.

"Sarah and I are praying for his family, his fellow officers and everyone who was impacted by this tragedy," he wrote on X. "His courage, selflessness and devotion to protecting others will never be forgotten."

The Railroad South Fire in Comanche County, Oklahoma, was reported on Saturday. All evacuation orders for residents affected by the wildfire have been lifted.

The cause of the blaze is still under investigation.

FBI extradites former Ten Most Wanted fugitive arrested for 2000 murder of 5-year-old girl in Philadelphia

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 14:20:15 -0400

The FBI secured the extradition of a Honduran national wanted for over 25 years for the alleged rape and murder of a 5-year-old girl in Philadelphia on Monday.

Alexis Flores was arrested in Honduras in February and connected to the alleged 2000 rape and murder of 5-year-old Iriana DeJesus, FBI Director Kash Patel said in a statement. The FBI listed Flores on its top 10 Most Wanted Fugitives list, and authorities in Honduras agreed to extradite him to U.S. custody.

"Alexis Flores is yet another high value target brought back by this FBI, after he was arrested in Honduras in February by an anti-gang transnational task force connected to the 2000 murder of a 5-year-old girl, Iriana DeJesus," Patel told Fox News Digital. "After more than 25 years on the run, this arrest proves time and distance do not shield violent offenders from justice."

EXCLUSIVE: ALLEGED $32M COVID-19 FRAUD FUGITIVE CAPTURED IN JAMAICA AND RETURNED TO US, FBI SAYS

"This also comes as the FBI and Trump administration continue an unprecedented run of man hunting violent fugitives. This FBI has conducted nearly over 70 similar extraditions since the start of June. More than ever before, violent criminals cannot hide from the reach of law enforcement. Thank you to our overseas partners, department of justice, and brilliant FBI teams who got this done," Patel said.

The FBI said Flores had been removed from the fugitives list in March 2025 due to the prior Honduran government’s refusal to extradite him for his offenses, citing local laws limiting extradition.

PATEL SAYS FBI IS 'MANHUNTING' TERROR SUSPECTS AROUND THE GLOBE AFTER TWO HIGH-VALUE CAPTURES

Authorities in Philadelphia celebrated Flores' arrest when authorities apprehended him in Honduras earlier this year.

"The passage of time does not diminish our resolve or perseverance in the pursuit of justice," said Wayne Jacobs, special agent in charge of FBI Philadelphia, in February. "The arrest of Alexis Flores is the culmination of 25 years of tireless investigative effort and the strength of our partnerships across departments. Through this sustained collaboration and the support of our law enforcement partners, both domestically and internationally, the day is now here."

COLD-CASE FUGITIVE BUSTED SOUTH OF THE BORDER AS NEW DNA TECH ALLEGEDLY TIES HIM TO TEEN’S ROADSIDE KILLING

Flores' extradition comes just weeks after the FBI captured Most Wanted fugitive Gregory Henderson Jr., just three days after adding the alleged Indianapolis gang leader to its list and offering a reward of up to $1 million for information leading to his arrest.

Henderson, 46, had evaded arrest since a sweeping federal takedown of his alleged organization in August 2023. He faces federal charges of conspiracy to possess with intent to distribute and to distribute controlled substances, conspiracy to launder monetary instruments and conspiracy to engage in an animal fighting venture.

The FBI alleges Henderson led a violent Indianapolis gang whose drug trafficking network was supplied by the Sinaloa Cartel and distributed methamphetamine, cocaine and fentanyl throughout Indianapolis and the surrounding Midwest.

Fox News' Brittany Miller contributed to this report.

Colorado family wakes up to bear eating breakfast in kitchen

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:49:03 -0400

A Colorado family woke up one July and found a bear making itself at home and eating breakfast in their kitchen.

Security camera footage from inside the Colorado Springs home shows the bear entering the kitchen on July 21 and grabbing a snack.

"I was getting ready in the morning and heard a bang. I asked my kids — 8, 6 and 3 years old — if they were all okay, and they were all upstairs playing," Nerissa England told Storyful.

GATLINBURG POLICE FREE BLACK BEAR THAT LOCKED ITSELF INSIDE HOTEL BATHROOM IN WILD VIRAL VIDEO

"I assumed it was a picture that had fallen off the wall, so my curious 8-year-old daughter, Zara Lee, went downstairs to investigate, and my husband followed to grab coffee," England added. "She rounded the corner into our kitchen, and a bear was eating our trash right outside the kitchen door."

The bear apparently walked into the home through a back door that was left open so that a breeze could come in amid the hot temperatures.

COLORADO BLACK BEAR DIES AFTER BECOMING TRAPPED INSIDE UNLOCKED CAR FOR DAYS: REPORT

The animal then ate some Flintstones vitamins left on a table, dragged a trash can outside and began rummaging through it near the kitchen door, England said.

Zara Lee and her father reportedly managed to scare the bear away by opening the door and making noise.

CALIFORNIA COUPLE FIGHTS OFF 70-POUND BLACK BEAR WITH HATCHET AND WATER BOTTLE OUTSIDE THEIR HOME

"We will be keeping the door shut for a while until the local bears get the food they need and go into hibernation!" England told Storyful.

Bears have wandered into people's homes across the United States in record numbers after a dry winter wiped out plants, grasses, berries and nuts that form around 90% of their diet, Reuters reported.

Their sense of smell has lured them to places with human food. This has led to record bear deaths in some states, as hundreds have been euthanized, run over, shot and even electrocuted as they interact with humans.

Texas fire department makes save on crane 22 stories in the air

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:38:47 -0400

Responders rescued an individual from the cab of a towering crane in Texas on Saturday, according to the Fort Worth Fire Department.

The department detailed the save in a Saturday Facebook post, which noted that the individual was about 220 feet high.

"The Fort Worth Fire Department Alarm Office received a call for a medical emergency at 11:50am today," the post noted, explaining, "The location was at... the construction site at JPS Health Hospital. Upon arrival, crews found that the patient was actually located approximately 220 feet up in the air, inside of a crane cab."

Responders climbed up, provided medical aid and lowered the individual to the ground, the department noted.

"When technical rescue teams arrived on scene, they gathered gear and began their ascent up the crane’s ladder. They carried with them all of the equipment they would need for the entire rescue on their backs," the department said.

"Upon arrival at the top of the crane (over 22 stories in the air), they went to work. Immediate emergency medical care was started while technical rescue teams began devising a plan for the patient’s safe descent," the department continued.

"Once the patient was safely hooked up to the ropes and rigging system, the crews had him lowered and on the ground. This all happened within less than an hour of their making it to him initially," the post read.

The department shared multiple photos of the heroic rescue effort.

"The crane operator was then transported to the hospital in stable condition," the department added.

Illinois man missing more than a week as crews scour Great Smoky Mountains National Park

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 13:27:58 -0400

A 57-member search team is combing Great Smoky Mountains National Park for an Illinois man who has been missing for more than a week after his vehicle was found at a popular visitor center.

Marcin Bachleda-Blaszczak was last known to be at the Sugarlands Visitor Center parking lot on August 22, 2025, according to the National Park Service (NPS). He was reported missing two days later and his vehicle was then found in the visitor center’s parking lot.

Park rangers and volunteers, along with local agencies, have expanded the search in and around the park, looking both on and off trails and using drones to help cover the area, as they look for Bachleda-Blaszczak, according to NPS.

73-YEAR-OLD CAMPER VANISHES OFF THE GRID BEFORE HIS RV TURNS UP IN WILDERNESS

Drones are normally prohibited inside Great Smoky Mountains National Park, which straddles the border between North Carolina and Tennessee, but are temporarily being allowed for the search.

Bachleda-Blaszczak's family said nothing seemed unusual shortly before he disappeared.

"The day before, I believe, was when he had pizza with his dad, you know, chatted with him, said he might pick up a shift the next day at work," his cousin, Corrina Auten, told CBS Chicago.

"It was very, you know, like a normal, normal conversation. There wasn't anything strange or amiss," she said. "The next thing we knew, he didn't show up for work and he was missing."

URGENT SEARCH UNDERWAY FOR MORE THAN A DOZEN PEOPLE AFTER GRAND CANYON FLASH FLOOD

Rangers first searched the area around Sugarlands before widening their search. The team grew to 47 rangers and volunteers by Saturday and 57 by Sunday, according to the NPS.

Bachleda-Blaszczak is described as 5 feet, 6 inches tall and approximately 170 pounds, with brown hair and blue eyes.

Officials asked anyone with information or who believes they have seen Bachleda-Blaszczak to contact Great Smoky Mountains National Park dispatch at GRSM_Dispatch@nps.gov.

South Carolina woman accused of stabbing Lyft driver 11 times claims mental health crisis

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 11:41:26 -0400

A South Carolina woman accused of stabbing her Lyft driver 11 times before taking his vehicle was denied bond Friday as her attorney argued she was experiencing a severe mental health crisis during the alleged attack.

Naziyha Weatherall faces charges of attempted murder, carjacking and possession of a weapon during a violent crime in Greenville County. The charges stem from an April 22 incident, court records show.

FOX Carolina reported that prosecutors called the allegations a "frightening factual scenario" during Friday’s bond hearing and argued Weatherall posed an extreme danger to the community.

FLORIDA MAN ARRESTED IN IHOP RESTAURANT AFTER POLICE SAY HE STABBED A RIDESHARE DRIVER

"The victim was simply just trying to do his job and was stabbed 11 times," a solicitor said, according to FOX Carolina. "Not only was he stabbed 11 times, his car was then carjacked by this defendant."

The driver’s wife appeared in court on his behalf, saying the trauma of the alleged attack prevented him from attending.

"What concerns us most is that happened while my husband was simply working," she said. "He was not looking for any confrontation, he was providing a service to a person. If this level of violence could happen to someone who was simply doing his job, we are concerned about potential risks to other people in our community."

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Weatherall’s lawyer urged the court to view the allegations through the lens of her mental state, saying she had never previously been charged with a crime and was in the throes of a psychiatric emergency.

CHARLOTTE TRAIN STABBING SUSPECT DODGES POTENTIAL DEATH PENALTY FOR NOW AFTER HE'S RULED INCOMPETENT

The defense said paranoia had convinced Weatherall that others were monitoring her and trying to harm her, prompting her to summon a ride to report her fears to police.

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"Her mother even called the police station to let them know she was on the way to make a report," the attorney said. "During that, the crisis got worse."

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The attorney said Weatherall believed she was being trafficked, panicked during the ride and had been diagnosed with schizophrenia and other mental health conditions.

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The defense said Weatherall is now medicated, stable and competent, and asked the court to release her so relatives and a social worker could arrange placement at a treatment facility.

BOYFRIEND ACCUSED OF STABBING DEFENSE TECH ENGINEER 15 TIMES DENIED BOND AFTER 911 CALL PLAYED IN COURT

Weatherall’s mother apologized to the driver’s family while asking the court to consider her daughter’s mental state.

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"She’s not a criminal. She would never, ever, ever hurt anybody like that," her mother said. "And I understand the family’s side, I truly do, because we are all suffering. We all are."

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A judge ordered competency and observation evaluations in June, court records show. On Friday, the judge denied Weatherall’s bond request and ordered that she remain jailed pending a psychological evaluation scheduled for September.

Lyft told Fox News Digital it permanently removed the rider accounts involved from its platform and has continued assisting law enforcement.

"Violence like this has no place in the Lyft community or in our society," a Lyft spokesperson said. "The driver’s well-being has been our priority, and we have reached out to them and their family to offer support."

Fox News Digital has reached out to Weatherall’s attorney for comment.

Newark airport shuttle bus slams into concrete barrier, injuring 13

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 07:48:55 -0400

An employee shuttle bus crashed into a concrete barrier at Newark Liberty International Airport in New Jersey early Monday, injuring 13 people, according to local reports.

The crash happened shortly after 3 a.m. on the Terminal B Departures Level 3 roadway, News 12 New Jersey reported.

Three people suffered serious injuries, while 10 others sustained minor injuries, according to the report. None of the injuries were believed to be life-threatening.

BUS CRASH NEAR PENTAGON INJURES 23, INCLUDING 10 WAR DEPARTMENT PERSONNEL

Video obtained by Fox News Digital showed the badly damaged shuttle bus still pressed against the concrete barrier in the aftermath of the crash. The front end appeared crumpled, while glass from the bus door and windshield were shattered.

Police tape surrounded the crash site as first responders worked nearby.

The injured were transported to area hospitals for evaluation and treatment, according to WABC-TV.

The crash prompted authorities to close the Terminal B Departures Level 3 roadway as crews worked to clear debris from the area.

LAGUARDIA SHUTS DOWN RUNWAY FOR SECOND TIME IN WEEKS AFTER PAVEMENT ISSUE RESURFACES

The Port Authority Police Department advised passengers departing from Terminal B to be dropped off on Level 2 because of the police activity.

Authorities have not released the cause of the crash.

The investigation is ongoing.

Deadly Grand Canyon flooding knocks out critical water line amid race to find missing hikers

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 07:40:19 -0400

Severe flash flooding knocked out a central water line in the Grand Canyon this weekend, forcing the National Park Service to implement strict water restrictions amid an ongoing race to find missing hikers.

NPS says it will implement stage four water restrictions beginning at 12:00 p.m. on Monday, saying the Saturday flooding caused "extensive damage to infrastructure," including the Transcanyon Waterline that supplies the park with water. Park officials say 2 people were killed and 15 may be missing after the flooding, though they say that is an estimate.

Park officials confirmed they recovered the body of a 46-year-old man from the Colorado River on Sunday night. He has not been publicly identified. Authorities recovered a second body on Monday, but they have not released further details.

MISSING GRAND CANYON HIKER, 83, RESCUED AFTER GETTING SEPARATED FROM COMPANION

NPS issued a request for the public to provide information on the 15 other people who are believed to be missing.

"The National Park Service is asking anyone who knows of hikers or backpackers who were in the inner canyon along the Bright Angel Creek corridor on August 29, as well as anyone who had a campground reservation in the affected corridor, to provide information to the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch," NPS said in a statement.

AMERICAN HIKER VANISHES ON TROPICAL TREK AS FLASH FLOODS, MUDSLIDES TURN JUNGLE GETAWAY INTO DESPERATE SEARCH

Park officials say they have so far evacuated at least 62 people since the Saturday flooding.

The stage 4 water restrictions affecting the rest of the park include forced dry camping with no access to water spigots, the temporary closure of overnight lodgings, and a strict no-fire rule for the South Rim and inner canyon areas.

ARMY BLACK HAWKS AIRLIFT 200-PLUS STRANDED CAMPERS AS MISSOURI FLOODS TRIGGER MORE 350 RESCUES

The flooding struck Bright Angel Canyon and the Phantom Ranch area on Aug. 29, according to NPS, which added that nearly all footbridges spanning Bright Angel Creek were destroyed.

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said state emergency officials are coordinating with federal and local authorities as the search continues.

EXPERTS ZERO IN ON LIKELY CAUSE OF DEADLY NEPAL MUDSLIDE, WITH MORE THAN 1,400 MISSING

"My heart is with the families and loved ones of every person unaccounted for after the flash flooding at the Grand Canyon," Hobbs wrote on X. "DEMA is coordinating with NPS and Coconino County Emergency Management to support search and recovery efforts."

Arizona Secretary of State Adrian Fontes called the flash flooding "devastating" and thanked first responders for searching for those still unaccounted for and evacuating others from the affected area.

"The physical damage includes a historic lodge near the bottom of the site and untold environmental upheaval," Fontes said in a statement. "I send my prayers to the community as the search for those unaccounted for continues."

Iran retaliates against US forces after American strikes in key oil route and more top headlines

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 07:03:28 -0400

1. Iran retaliates against US forces after American strikes in key oil route

2. US carrier joins operations to support security in Mideast

3. Trump says what would be 'big, big trouble' for America

TRAIL OF DAMAGE — Around 15 people unaccounted for after flash flood tears through Grand Canyon. Continue reading …

HARD AT WORK — AI data center boom sparks hiring surge at one of America’s oldest manufacturers. Continue reading …

RIPPLE EFFECT — Retired judge warns more accused killers may follow Lindsay Clancy strategy. Continue reading …

SURVIVOR'S SPIRIT — California mom loses both legs after SUV suddenly barrels into outdoor dining area. Continue reading …

GRIDIRON VERDICT — FSU nearly blown out by a 4-8 squad and Norvell's job could be on the line. Continue reading …

BOOM VOYAGE — Pentagon puts suspected drug boats on notice with new images and deadly warning. Continue reading …

FROM THE PEW — Progressives invoke Jesus as they push left-wing agenda in key Senate races. Continue reading …

ROAD RECKONING — Dozens of illegal alien truck drivers busted with licenses from Dem-run states. Continue reading …

ON NOTICE — Duffy teases 'unprecedented' fraud crackdown as federal agencies team up. Continue reading …

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GUILT BY ASSOCIATION — Hasan Piker tells reporter El-Sayed asked him to 'stump' for Michigan campaign. Continue reading …

POLITICAL THEATER — Border czar Homan fires back at Democrat who claims ICE is 'terrorizing' children. Continue reading …

MUZZLE ATTEMPT — Trump vows to report Kristen Welker to FCC over 'purposeful inaccuracy.' Continue reading …

DOLLAR DIPLOMACY — Brandon Johnson's new order forces contractors to reveal ties to federal agencies. Continue reading …

GOV. MIKE DUNLEAVY — America cannot beat China by leaving Alaska’s critical minerals underground. Continue reading …

JONATHAN TURLEY — Far-left litmus test for Senate hopefuls exposes the radical priority. Continue reading …

AISLE OF PRIDE — Shoppers are going hog wild for merchandise from 110-year-old American grocery chain. Continue reading …

ON TOP AGAIN — Scheffler gets last laugh after F-bomb frustration, storms back to win Tour Championship. Continue reading …

'IT'S OFFICIAL!' — Google Maps begins showing 'Lake America' to US users after Trump order. Continue reading …

AMERICAN CULTURE QUIZ – Test yourself on football futures and dessert drama. Take the quiz here …

Tune in as Republican leadership faces a tight window to pass a budget, clear legislative hurdles, and set the narrative before early voting begins. Check it out.

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Accused NC killer mom plans insanity defense — as retired judge says more may follow Lindsay Clancy strategy

Mon, 31 Aug 2026 00:00:44 -0400

The insanity defense planned by a North Carolina mother accused of killing her son has drawn parallels to Lindsay Clancy’s trial and raised questions about whether it could become prevalent in criminal cases.

Andrea Faust, 41, is charged with murder and attempted murder in the Feb. 12 death of her 3-year-old son and the attempted murder of her 2-year-old son at their home in Durham, North Carolina.

Her attorneys have filed notice that they intend to rely on defenses of not guilty by reason of insanity and diminished capacity, WRAL reported.

The case is drawing parallels to Clancy’s Massachusetts trial. Retired Massachusetts Superior Judge Jack Lu said he expects similar defenses to be raised more often as the Clancy case draws national attention to postpartum mental-health conditions.

LINDSAY CLANCY DIDN'T SHOW 'BREAK WITH REALITY' AS JURY WEIGHS PSYCHOSIS DEFENSE: SUSAN SMITH PROSECUTOR

Clancy has pleaded not guilty by reason of lack of criminal responsibility in the 2023 deaths of her three children. Her defense argued she suffered from postpartum psychosis, while prosecutors argue she understood her actions and acted deliberately.

Jurors ended a second day of deliberations Friday without reaching a verdict. They will return on Monday morning to continue working toward a verdict.

In Faust’s case, the filing does not establish that she was legally insane or had diminished capacity. Her attorney, Nicole Galinsky, told the local outlet that a defense expert concluded Faust could not distinguish right from wrong during the alleged murders.

"Andrea and Lindsay’s cases are eerily similar, though not entirely the same," Galinsky told Fox News Digital.

Galinsky noted that Faust was not suffering from postpartum psychosis.

"However, both women were known to be loving, doting, responsible mothers who were worried about and caring for their children up until the very second they decided to kill them," Galinsky said, adding that Faust and Clancy were both struggling with similar issues, including hallucinations, hospitalizations and mental health.

"Neither woman did this out of the blue," Galinsky said in an email. "Both were struggling enormously with their mental health. But, like most women and almost all moms, they were just trying to get through each day, care for their children, be a good mom/wife/employee. Both were seeking help from doctors who weren’t really taking their concerns seriously.

"Both of these cases highlight the failure in our society to take women and mothers seriously when it comes to their mental health. Both of these women advocated for themselves countless times and—for what? It got them nowhere.

"I am hopeful that our case will demonstrate how to properly treat and rehabilitate a woman living her own worst nightmare. Lindsay Clancy was not given that luxury."

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Lu said society and the legal system have not fully understood the effects postpartum mental illness can have on behavior and criminal responsibility.

"Most of the time, these criminal responsibility, insanity, mental health defenses are unsuccessful," Lu told Fox News Digital.

LINDSAY CLANCY'S FAMILY WAS 'VERY CONCERNED' ABOUT HER MENTAL HEALTH IN THE MONTHS BEFORE SHE KILLED HER KIDS

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Although he is not a mental-health expert, Lu said the Clancy trial has challenged and changed his own understanding of what a person might experience.

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"I had no real understanding of what a person like Ms. Clancy was going through until this trial," he said.

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Faust was found incapable of proceeding to trial in March after court records documented serious concerns about her mental health and safety, according to WRAL.

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Central Regional Hospital later found her capable of proceeding as of May 21. Her attorney said another evaluation would examine her mental state at the time of the alleged offenses.

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Lu said mental-health defenses should receive more serious consideration because they can explain behavior and reduce moral culpability. But allegations involving children create an especially difficult path with jurors, he said.

"These cases should have legs," Lu said, "but unfortunately society and juries don’t give them much credence."

Beloved Texas chiropractor killed in Grand Canyon flash flood, 2 friends still missing after hike

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 22:14:47 -0400

A beloved Texas chiropractor and father of three who disappeared during devastating flash flooding at the Grand Canyon has died, his former chiropractic practice announced Monday.

Dr. John Giusti, of Granbury, Texas, had been exploring the Grand Canyon when a flash flood tore through Bright Angel Creek on Aug. 29, turning what his wife described as a "lifetime dream" into tragedy.

"We are heartbroken to make this update. Dr. John was one of the victims of the Grand Canyon flooding," Whipple City Family Chiropractic, where Giusti previously practiced for eight years, announced on Facebook.

"John was a real-life superhero to everyone blessed enough to know him," Janet Giusti wrote in a tribute shared on the fundraiser.

PARK VISITORS FACE FLOOD DANGER OUT WEST WHILE SEVERE STORMS RIP THROUGH NY, NJ

Photos posted to Giusti’s ChiroHabit business page also show him in the Grand Canyon before the flooding began.

Janet remembered her husband as a dedicated chiropractor who "truly lived to treat and heal," but said his most cherished role was being a father.

"Beyond his practice, he was a man of electric energy and boundless passion---an avid runner, an enthusiast of fast cars, and a massive fan of comic books and legendary heroes," she wrote. "Yet out of all the titles he carried, his absolute favorite was being a devoted father to his three beautiful girls."

ARIZONA STATE STUDENT VANISHES DURING GRAND CANYON TRIP JUST DAYS BEFORE GRADUATION, FAMILY PLEADS FOR HELP

Janet said her husband was fulfilling a longtime dream when the deadly flood struck.

"John was living out a lifetime dream exploring the majesty of the Grand Canyon when tragedy struck," she wrote. "On August 29, 2026, a sudden flash flood swept through Bright Angel Creek, tragically taking him from us while he was immersed in an adventure he had longed for."

GRAND CANYON MYSTERY ILLNESS REPORTEDLY TRIGGERS NPS INVESTIGATION AFTER RAFTERS REPORT ALARMING SYMPTOMS

While describing the family's grief as "as vast and profound as the canyon itself," Janet said they were finding some solace in how John spent his final moments.

"We find a small comfort in knowing he spent his final moments surrounded by breathtaking beauty, living life to the fullest," she wrote.

Her tribute ended with a heartbreaking description of the different roles Giusti played in the lives of those around him.

"To the community, he was a gifted healer. To his friends, a powerhouse of life. To his daughters, he was their ultimate hero. To me, he was my whole world," Janet wrote.

The National Park Service has not publicly identified the approximately 15 people it is working to locate or account for, and officials have not confirmed Giusti’s name.

The agency is asking anyone who knows of hikers or backpackers who were in the Bright Angel Creek corridor on Aug. 29 or who had a campground reservation there to contact investigators.

Whipple City Family Chiropractic separately announced it was collecting donations at its Greenwich and Cambridge offices and would match the contributions to provide immediate support to the Giusti family.

Giusti practiced chiropractic care for 19 years and was a partner at Whipple City Family Chiropractic in New York for eight years before moving to Granbury in 2020, according to his business biography. He and Janet were raising their three
daughters in Texas.

ARMY BLACK HAWKS AIRLIFT 200-PLUS STRANDED CAMPERS AS MISSOURI FLOODS TRIGGER MORE 350 RESCUES

Giusti was not alone in the canyon when the flooding struck.

Loved ones identified the other two members of his hiking group as Brent Rosenkranz and Tim Smith, saying both men remained missing Monday as search-and-rescue efforts continued.

Rosenkranz had posted selfies from the Grand Canyon before the flooding, tagging Giusti and sharing his excitement about the grueling adventure ahead.

"Just arrived at the Grand Canyon. Will be hiking over 31 miles next four days with vertical change of over a mile," Rosenkranz wrote. "Carrying a 40 lb backpack. This should be an adventure!"

Rosenkranz joked that his fear of heights would likely make the trip even more memorable.

"Most of you know don't handle heights," he wrote. "So I should have lots of funny stories when I get back."

The post offered a glimpse of the group's trip before flash flooding tore through Bright Angel Creek.

Tina Newberry, whose daughter co-owns the ATA Glen Rose martial arts location, said Giusti had been exploring the canyon with fellow "ATA fathers" Rosenkranz and Smith when disaster struck.

"At this time, Brent and Tim remain missing, and search and rescue teams continue working to locate them," Newberry wrote in a public Facebook post.

Newberry said Rosenkranz is the husband of Elisha Rosenkranz and that the couple is deeply connected to ATA martial arts schools in Granbury, Cleburne and Glen Rose, Texas. She described Smith as a husband and father of three children who attend the schools.

"This tragedy is touching four ATA school communities---students, parents, instructors, and team members who know and love these families," Newberry wrote. "Please keep all of them, along with the search and rescue teams, in your thoughts and prayers."

"We continue to hold onto hope and pray in faith for Brent and Tim to be found," she added.

The flash flood began at about 2:30 p.m. on Aug. 29, according to the National Park Service. As of Sunday morning, 62 people had been evacuated from Phantom Ranch and the lower North Kaibab Trail, and no injuries had been reported.

Nearly all footbridges across Bright Angel Creek were destroyed, cutting off hiker access across the waterway. The flooding also forced the closure of Phantom Ranch, Bright Angel Campground, the North Kaibab Trail to Phantom Ranch, Black Bridge, Silver Bridge and the Colorado River to river traffic.

EXPERTS ZERO IN ON LIKELY CAUSE OF DEADLY NEPAL MUDSLIDE, WITH MORE THAN 1,400 MISSING

Arizona Gov. Katie Hobbs said her "heart is with the families and loved ones of every person unaccounted for after the flash flooding at the Grand Canyon."

Hobbs said the Arizona Division of Emergency Management is coordinating with the National Park Service and Coconino County Emergency Management to support search and recovery efforts.

Anyone with information about people who may have been in the affected corridor is asked to contact the National Park Service Investigative Services Branch Tip Line at 888-653-0009 or nps_isb@nps.gov.

California mom has both legs amputated after suspected impaired driver plows into her restaurant lunch table

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 21:16:25 -0400

An elderly California mother had both her legs amputated after an alleged impaired driver crashed into the outdoor dining area of a restaurant where she was eating lunch.

Cristina Vargas, 81, was enjoying lunch at a sidewalk table outside Los Cinco Puntos in Los Angeles' Boyle Heights with her daughter, Gabriela Vargas, and their male friend when the SUV plowed into them at around 3:30 p.m. on July 7.

Surveillance footage obtained by KTLA shows an SUV veering onto the sidewalk and into the outdoor dining area.

Screeching tires were heard just before the SUV hit the group, sending patrons, the table and other items flying.

ARIZONA GRANDPA TO UNDRGO AMPUTATION AFTER COLLAPSING ON SCORCHING SIDEWALK

"I remember I just heard screeching, and I was lifting up my head and I just saw headlights and a bumper and I heard a big boom," Gabriela told KTLA. "The next thing I knew, I was airborne."

Cristina’s lower body was pinned under the vehicle and Gabriela suffered a head injury and a deep laceration on her knee. The two women and their male friend were rushed to a hospital for treatment.

Gabriela and the male friend have since recovered from their injuries, but Cristina's injuries were significantly worse, and she faces a long road to recovery.

Cristina underwent three surgeries and later had both of her legs amputated. She said she is thankful to be alive and has maintained a positive mindset.

She has been undergoing physical therapy at a rehabilitation center and will soon be allowed to go back home.

Cristina, a widowed mother of two, said she is looking forward to being surrounded by her family and friends.

"My goal is to give her the best quality of care from here on out," Gabriela said of her mother.

A police report alleges that the driver was impaired at the time of the crash. The unidentified woman was arrested and charged with multiple felonies, according to KTLA.

A GoFundMe created by a friend for the Vargas family has raised more than $30,000 as of Sunday night. The fundraiser said the family is facing massive medical bills, ongoing rehabilitation and daily living expenses.

"Cristina will need significant support to adapt to her new disability, including making their home accessible and covering the costs of specialized care. The road ahead is long and challenging, but with your help, they can focus on healing rather than the overwhelming financial stress," the fundraiser reads.

CALIFORNIA MAN PICKS UP EXPLOSIVE DEVICE ON A BEACH DURING JULY 4 CLEANUP, LOSES HAND

The fundraiser described Cristina as a "vibrant and social person with a true lust for life."

"She loved to dance and was a regular at events at the senior center, bringing joy and energy wherever she went," the GoFundMe reads. "Her vivacious spirit and love for connecting with others made her a beloved member of the community. This sudden change is especially heartbreaking for someone who has always embraced life so fully and actively."

In an Aug. 17 update, Gabriela thanked supporters and said the recovery was progressing slowly.

"Thank you everybody for your love and support. We greatly appreciate it. It's a slow recovery but day by day we're getting through it. My mom's spirits remain hopeful as do mine. Recovery is very painful but she's giving it her all," Gabriela said.

Airport chaos erupts after driver suddenly smashes through fence, hits plane and tractor: police

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 19:27:05 -0400

A New Hampshire airport was allegedly breached Saturday after a teenager fleeing police crashed through a perimeter fence, striking a parked plane and nearby tractor, authorities said.

The incident unfolded at Portsmouth International Airport shortly after 8 p.m., New Hampshire State Police (NHSP) said Sunday.

The suspect was identified as Wyatt Seely, 17, of Rochester, who officials said was found intoxicated following the crash.

According to authorities, the pursuit began when officials were searching for "a vehicle related to reported crimes in other local jurisdictions."

FRONTIER JET STRIKES, KILLS PERSON ON DENVER AIRPORT RUNWAY DURING TAKEOFF AFTER SECURITY BREACH

A trooper attempted to stop a black 2008 Ford Mustang on Durham Street in Portsmouth. The driver then allegedly fled the scene, NHSP reported.

"The Mustang, which did not have its lights on at the time, then crashed through a perimeter fence of the nearby Portsmouth International Airport and traveled across an aircraft parking apron," officials said in a release.

The vehicle then struck a Kubota tractor and a small, unoccupied, stationary plane before coming to a stop, NHSP said in a post on X.

MAN CLIMBS ONTO US MILITARY AIRCRAFT IN IRELAND, ATTACKS IT WITH HATCHET: REPORT

Seely was taken into custody by state troopers and transported to an area hospital for evaluation, police said.

No one else was injured.

The teen was charged with misdemeanor counts of driving while intoxicated (DWI), aggravated driving while intoxicated, disobeying a police officer and conduct after an accident. He was also charged with a violation-level offense of reckless driving.

He is scheduled to be arraigned in Portsmouth District Court on Sept. 9, 2026.

The Portsmouth Police and Fire departments, the Newington Police Department, and Pease Fire and Emergency Services assisted during the incident.

Fox News Digital reached out to Portsmouth International Airport for more information.

Family sues after 6-year-old girl dies when badminton racket shaft pierces skull

Sun, 30 Aug 2026 19:06:31 -0400

The family of a 6-year-old New Jersey girl who died after a badminton racket came apart and pierced her skull during a Maine vacation is suing the Massachusetts-based maker of the sports equipment.

"This case represents a parent’s worst nightmare," attorney Charles P. Hehmeyer, who is representing the family, said. "The Morgan family was enjoying an idyllic summer vacation here in Maine when they lost Lucy due to what we allege was a dangerous and defective piece of sports equipment."

The wrongful death and product-liability lawsuit alleges Franklin Sports sold a defective and unreasonably dangerous badminton racket that failed during normal use and turned its metal shaft into a projectile.

Lucy Morgan was vacationing with her parents and siblings in Limerick, Maine, on June 1, 2024, when the tragedy unfolded.

COLLEGE GRAD REPORTEDLY DIES IN SIX FLAGS ROLLER COASTER INCIDENT AS FAMILY SUES THEME PARK

Maine State Police said Lucy’s 10-year-old brother was playing outside when the aluminum shaft became dislodged from the wooden handle. The shaft struck Lucy in the head and pierced her skull, authorities said.

Lucy was taken to Southern Maine Health Care in Sanford before being airlifted to Maine Medical Center in Portland, where she died June 5, 2024, police said.

U.S. TRACK STAR SUES PUMA TEAM OVER F1 TEAM-DESIGNED GEAR SHE SAYS CAUSED CAREER-ENDING INJURY

According to a copy of the complaint obtained by Fox News Digital, the Franklin badminton set had been supplied at the family’s rental cottage.

The lawsuit alleges the racket’s handle and metal shaft were not adequately secured, the adhesive joining the pieces was defective or insufficient, and the design lacked a secondary restraint that could have prevented the metal portion from flying free. The family also alleges Franklin Sports failed to warn consumers about the risk.

Hehmeyer told WCVB 5 that the case was not Franklin Sports’ first issue involving a racket separating. He said a child in New York lost an eye when a racket came apart, and alleged the company knew of that case but failed to make a fix.

MONTANA BOY KILLED AFTER BEING FLUNG FROM CARNIVAL RIDE OPERATING WITH MISSING RESTRAINTS, LAWSUIT ALLEGES

"The company knew that but chose not to correct this with something as simple as a pin in the handle, which would cost pennies," Hehmeyer told the outlet.

The lawsuit seeks compensatory and punitive damages, though it does not list a specific dollar figure. The family is seeking funeral expenses, emotional distress damages, loss of comfort, society and companionship, and other relief permitted under Maine law.

According to the complaint, Lucy’s three siblings witnessed the incident and suffered "severe emotional distress." Her parents heard her screaming and ran to her aid, the complaint alleges.

HEARTBROKEN FATHERS FIND DIVINE HOPE IN SECRET NOTES LEFT BY GIRLS KILLED IN CAMP MYSTIC FLOOD

Lucy’s father, Jesse Morgan, a pastor at Green Pond Bible Chapel in Rockaway, New Jersey, previously wrote that the family had been spending its final full day at a lake cottage when the children decided to play badminton in the front yard.

FLORIDA 3-YEAR-OLD DIES AFTER TRAGIC INCIDENT INVOLVING COMMON PLAY TOY AT BABYSITTER'S HOUSE

In the days following Lucy’s death, Jesse Morgan shared the faith that sustained his family through their grief. He told Fox News Digital that a friend returned Lucy’s backpack after the family came home from Maine, and inside was the prayer journal she had received about a month before she died. The journal contained drawings, Bible-themed notes and messages about her belief in God, her father said.

Jesse Morgan told Fox News Digital he had no doubt Lucy "loved Christ and loved God," and that God welcomed her into heaven. He described discovering the journal as one of the "most beautiful gifts" amid the family’s loss, adding that he believed his daughter had "the faith of a mustard seed."

Franklin Sports told Fox News Digital it "extends its deepest sympathies to Lucy Morgan’s family and all those affected by this tragic accident."

"Because litigation is pending, we cannot comment on the specific allegations in the lawsuit," the company said. Franklin Sports added that it takes product-safety concerns "very seriously," is committed to product quality and safety, and is reviewing the circumstances surrounding the incident.

Fox News Digital reached out to attorneys for the Morgan family for comment.

Fox News Digital's Sarah Rumpf-Whitten contributed to this report.